When Theo wakes up, he says he feels like he has entered another universe. Has he? Explain.
Theo states that he fears his alcohol and drug use has damaged his brain -- and maybe even his soul. Is there any evidence of this? How has his behavior changed without using those things?
Boris texts Theo from the MGM Grand. Based on the conversation, why might it be a good thing that this is the last time Theo hears from Boris for a long time?
Why do you think Theo was so upset after his initial call to Bracegirdle?
What is it about Pippa that makes Theo feel so happy and comforted? What do you make of her having to attend such a boarding school? Why does Aunt Margaret want her so badly if she's just going to send her off to school in Switzerland?
Theo seems to suggest that his mother may have had an affair with Bracegirdle. If that's true, does that change anything? And if it is true, how might that change the relationship between Bracegirdle and Theo?
What had Welty given to Theo besides the ring?
Many of you have recently endured the stress of standardized testing for college placement (ACT, SAT). These tests can determine college admission, as well as scholarship and grant opportunities. Theo takes tests that appear to have even more importance attached to them. In what ways are they more important for him than for the average student?
The pressure is mounting for Theo as far as the painting is concerned. No he realizes that he has put Hobie at risk. So why hasn't he more actively tried to figure out what to do with it yet?
42 comments:
I believe Theo hasn't done anything with the painting because having the painting makes him feel important. Looking back at the rest of his life, his father left him, his grandparents never loved him, his mother died because of a mistake he made, he lost his best friend because of the mistakes he made, and it just seems like everyone he has associated himself with either doesn't want him there or has their own hidden agenda. The picture gives Theo a sense of importance, he does research on famous stolen artwork and the names of the thieves always seem important. If Theo ever does get caught then he will be a part of history. The fact that he has a priceless picture makes him important to the entire art community. He doesn't want Hobie to suffer from this, nor does he want to get in trouble for having it, but Theo does want to to feel important for once in his life.
Theo's separation with Boris could be good for him because it may allow him to move on from his life in Vegas and his father. It may also allow Theo to remove himself from some of the bad habits he picked up in Vegas and return to his "normal" life. Boris' life and actions were very different than Theo's and is was probably beneficial for the two to go their own ways. Theo's time in Vegas with Boris allowed him to cope with his losses in a different way, as was Boris able to distract himself from his hectic life. When Theo returns to New York it is apparent that he and Boris were meant to take different paths and would not been able to improve their lives if they had stayed together. Their methods of coping with the hardships in their lives needed to be separated at some point in order for both of them to move on.
Welty has given Theo some semblance of a normal life. He has steered Theo to Hobie, the one man in New York, or anywhere, that will undoubtedly always be there to guide Theo and listen to him. Most of the people who care for Theo in any way, shape, or form only remain with Theo for a short period of time before life itches to move on. Hobie, however, never forces Theo out or even shows any inkling of wanting him to go elsewhere; time almost stands still in Hobie's place, and nothing ever seems to change with regards to the place itself and to Hobie's relationship with Theo. This gives Theo a small sense of security, the peace of knowing that, no matter what, he will never be without a place to go or someone to call on for help. And funny, it always seems as though Theo finds himself seeking Hobie's help at the very worst moments in his life. The reason for this is obvious; Hobie has established that he is a wise and ever-caring person, one whom anyone would want to travel with on the rough road of life. Whether or not Welty knew what he was doing in his delirium is hard to say, but with the ring, he threw Theo a lifeline that led straight to Hobie and his infinite kindness.
Adding to my last comment (I don't expect this one to count), Welty has given Theo the painting. This painting, in a way, symbolizes Hobie, as it will never seek Theo out or try to leave. Instead, it just stays, patiently waiting for Theo to turn to it when he needs it. Welty has led Theo to the perfect person and the perfect thing for him; they do not force their care on him, but they are always ready to give it to him when he wants it. Theo is actually, sort of, in control of what they do for him and when they come into his life, and this gives him the stability that everyone needs.
I think that being separated from Boris might be a good thing because although Boris helped Theo cope it was not a healthy way of coping. I think that now that Theo has gone back to Hobie he is not drinking, stealing, or doing drugs to make himself feel better. I also think if Theo keeps in touch with Boris he will not be able to separate himself from his father's death and Vegas. Vegas was no good for Theo other than meeting Boris ( which isn't a great thing either). Xandra and his father were not good influences and this let Theo go down a bad road. Now Theo thinks that the drugs hes been doing in large amounts have permanently screwed up his brain. I can see where he might be worried about this considering he is constantly disoriented and now he is getting very sick. Now that he is no longer hearing from Boris I think he will be able to bring himself back around especially to look better in front of Pippa.
Pippa makes Theo so happy because Pippa reminds him of the time before he went to live with his father. Pippa acts as an anchor for Theo, keeping him safe from the things he grew accustomed to with Boris. I believe that Theo thinks him and Pippa have a connection because of what they went through together at the museum. Theo thinks that she is one of the few people that can truly understand what he went through. Pippa is also one of Theo's first love or crushes that the reader is aware of. After getting pulled away from her so quickly when they first met, it's natural to assume that his feelings for her have returned or never truly left.
Theo has entered another universe. He left a word of drunken carelessness and apathy and returned to a very different setting of New York with someone who has his best interests in mind. In Vegas, Theo looked after himself along with Boris, and slipped from the things that defined him in New York, such as his grades, the amount of time thinking about his mother, and the influence of Andy and his family. Theo returns to New York as a different person, and because of this everything feels different and distant, which is highlighted by how Andy's father treats him on the street. Theo only starts to re-adjust after he is with Hobbie for a few days, an environment that Theo hasn't experienced in two years.
If Bracegirdle had an affair with Theo's mother, then (in Theo's mind) that makes his mother closer in character to his father. Theo has idolized his mother his whole life, certainly so after his father left New York. His mother was perfect in his eyes, incapable of doing wrong. Having an affair with this man, some strange figure he had never met, made Theo doubt the perfection of his mother. Didn't Theo hate his father for betraying him and his mother? How could his mother commit the same crime? Of course, Bracegirdle seems to Theo (and the reader) as a much better man- understanding, educated, and honest (or is he?)- which seems to make the act as less of a "crime". Certainly if his mother had relations with this man, she must of had good reasons (one of which: having to endure the pain of marriage to Theo's father). However, the view of Theo's mother is now disfigured for both parties (Theo and the reader)- what other secrets was this perfect woman hiding?
Uncovering the pair's affair (maybe) challenges Theo's image of his mother's perfection. This could possibly lead to a falling out between Bracegirdle and Theo. Bracegirdle, who was trusted to take care of Theo financially (and most likely, emotionally too) might struggle with explaining why everything happened the way it did. I expect that if/when the truth every comes out of Bracegirdle, Theo will become confused and beyond upset.
Theo has gone through great ordeals over the course of just a few days, so when he wakes up back in his hometown after being gone for 2 years and overcoming so many new encounters in Las Vegas, then it probably did seem as if he were in another universe. While his surroundings are familiar, his circumstances aren't. Both of his parents are dead. The one friend he had happens to be someone he is in love with, but he just had to pack up and leave him. while it might feel like a relief to be back in his hometown New York, it can't feel the same because he is living with Hobie, as an orphan and not with his mother. His appearance is new to him as he was startled at his looks when he looked at himself in the mirror. I think Theo was too intoxicated during his time in Vegas to really notice the changes happening around him and on him, so when things finally settle down back in New York it feels all too strange to him, as if he is in another universe.
Now that Theo is no longer drinking or doing drugs, he believes it has changed his brain and even soul. Because of his father's addiction,Theo is likely to have an addictive nature, and once you are addicted to something, going cold-turkey and stopping it can be rough on the body/mind. After his mom's death Theo used drugs and alcohol as a way to cope, so it definetley damaged his mind and the way he thinks. Also, when he gets to Hobie's he is very ill. I believe this illness is a mixture between withdrawl and actually being sick. I think it's a good idea that Theo doesn't hear from Boris for a while, because now he can stop relying on drugs, drinking, and theft as a way to heal. Now that he is with Hobie, he can cope with the loss of his father and mother in a positive way.
If Theo wouldn't have met Welty in his final few minutes, his life would have taken a much different course. Before he died, Welty had given him a ring and a description of a building. After things had settled from the accident, Theo found the building he described and took the ring to the remaining owner, Hobie. If Welty had never given Theo the ring, he would have never met Hobie, never would have a safe place to go, and he wouldn't have found people he could care about who didn't make him feel like a burden. Those few minutes with Welty were what had given Theo another chance for a good life.
I think not hearing from Boris for a long time is a good thing because he wasn't a good influence on Theo. Boris gave Theo a way to cope with all that has happened but it wasn't a healthy and effective way. Theo being with Hobie is much better because he is not stealing, drinking, or doing drugs. I think Boris, in Theo's mind, is a connection to his fathers death and Vegas, as many others have stated. Also I think by Theo not leaving him he might not be able to disconnect himself from his fathers death and Vegas. Boris may have been his way out during hard times but now that he is with Hobie I think he will get back on the right track. He believes his brain and soul is damaged from all the drugs, and I believe he could be right because, like many said, he is disoriented and feeling sick. But I also think that if he stays on track with going cold-turkey he will be changed for the better.
I think not hearing from Boris for a long time is a good thing because he wasn't a good influence on Theo. Boris gave Theo a way to cope with all that has happened but it wasn't a healthy and effective way. Theo being with Hobie is much better because he is not stealing, drinking, or doing drugs. I think Boris, in Theo's mind, is a connection to his fathers death and Vegas, as many others have stated. Also I think by Theo not leaving him he might not be able to disconnect himself from his fathers death and Vegas. Boris may have been his way out during hard times but now that he is with Hobie I think he will get back on the right track. He believes his brain and soul is damaged from all the drugs, and I believe he could be right because, like many said, he is disoriented and feeling sick. But I also think that if he stays on track with going cold-turkey he will be changed for the better.
Theo wakes up in another universe. Not only is he in a different part of the country, but he is also becoming a different, better version of himself. Because he is away from the negative influences in Las Vegas, Theo is able to become an enhanced version of himself without the drinking and law-breaking. Also, it is a positive thing for Theo to be cut off from Boris completely for a long time, because, now that Theo is away from him, you can tell that they are two wholly different people, and that Theo has a redeemable soul and conscience, where Boris does not. They are headed in different directions, and Theo is going up.
In a way it could feel like Theo entered a different universe because NY and LV are two different places so dissimilar that even the air could feel different to breathe. Theo seems clumsy and strung out since he doesn’t have drugs or cigarettes. Since Theo is back in a better place and being watched more responsibly by Hobie. It is good that Theo never see Boris again to influence him with alcohol and drugs.
I would assume that Pippa is treated so terribly because of her mother. In chapter 4-11, Hobie tells Theo the story about Margaret and Juliet. When the opportunity was present for Margaret to take custody of Pippa, she took it. She believes that Juliet was the source of her parent's broken marriage, which Margaret's dad believed too. To get back at Juliet, she's treating Pippa horribly. When Pippa tells her that she doesn't want to go to the school, Margaret guilt trips her, and makes her still go because she knows Pippa hates it. The aunt is a pretty messed up person to treat Pippa like this, because Margaret believes she's doing a good thing. Also, Hobie can't help because Margaret is rich and would get her way no matter what.
Theo wakes up to what feels like a new universe because New York feels way different than Las Vegas. Not only that, but this is almost a chance for a new start. He has gotten away from his drinking habits and law-breaking tendencies and is able to become a better him. It's really good that he's getting away from Boris for a long time too. Although Boris and Theo got along well, Boris still wasn't a good influence on him anyway. It's a bittersweet moment that had to happen.
I think the reason Theo hasn't gotten rid of the painting yet is that, though he is worried about it, he can't think of a way to do it without casting a lot of suspicion on either himself or Hobbie. Since he's scared and doesn't know what to do he's ignoring it (subconsciously at least).
When Theo got off the phone with Mr. Bracegirdle, I figured that he was upset because he had told him that he was able to take the money out of the bank. That if Theo could take the money out, like he is legally able to, then his father wouldn't be dead right now and Theo wouldn't be in this situation. I thought it gave him a realization that he could have saved his dad. Theo and Boris always talked about running away but when it came down to it, if dad was still alive then Theo would have never left. Adding to Amelia's post, Boris was going down the wrong path. Xandra had told Theo the same, Boris would be in jail at 18 and so would Theo if he kept hanging around it. Welty's gift of Hobie will provide a much better influence.
As we see in the story thus far when Theo is under the influence of drugs and alcohol it seems to damage his good side and it seems to bring a darker and meaner side that no one likes other than those who do the same as him. Drugs and alcohol that were brought into his life by Boris are probably one of the worst things to ever happen to him, he acts like a different person, he commits crimes, he gets into fights, and he sins like no other. So in a sense drugs and alcohol have stained his soul in a bad way and I think it was best that he left Boris. I think if he stayed any longer, it would of wrecked his life and probably would of put him underneath the ground. On the other hand though he was psychologically damaged when his father died, his mother died, and he lost his best friend, but still drugs and alcohol have affected him in a worse way then any of these. So it was good for him to get away from both Boris and the things that have been affecting his life negatively.
Theo has entered a new world when he gets back to New York. He no longer is drinking, smoking, or stealing and he is finally starting to heal healthily. He coped with his mother's death and moving to Las Vegas in a poor way and coming back is a chance for him to get his life back on track. He is entering a new life for himself. I think it's a good thing he has left Boris especially based on the text messages he receives. Boris is not giving up the lifestyle that they had together. He is just getting worse by actually gambling now. He is still caught up in a life of drinking. partying, and girls. Theo has moved on to a different and better place so being around Boris would not allow him to continue with his life. It might have helped him feel better about the things that happened to him but it's time for Theo to actually deal with them and move on.
I think Theo hasn't gotten rid of the painting yet because of the way it makes him feel. It was his mothers favorite painting and his emotional attachment to it, is too strong. Not only that, but he's worried about what he would tell people. He's worried about explaining to people why he never turned the painting in on the first place. He's scared about getting in trouble and getting Hobbie in trouble. But, more importantly, I think it goes back to the feeling the painting gives him. The link between the painting and his mother is what drives Theo to keep the painting.
I hate to say it, but I honestly think that the drugs and alcohol really did damage Theo's brain. He went from being a great, honors student with no problem at all, to studying so hard just to keep up with everyone else. Not only that, but he is also comfortable with doing the bare minimum while a couple years ago when his mother was alive he would have wanted to be doing as much as he could- not just getting by. I think that not only did the drugs damage his brain because they are bad, but also because Theo always used them as an escape. He would escape the reality of his unfortunate situation by jumping into another world where nothing mattered. Doing this has really effected him because it has changed what he views from right and wrong, and it has taken a huge chunk of schooling away from his life. Not only that, but Theo no longer can jump into the other reality now that he is with Hobie. He no longer has those drugs or even Boris to fall back on. Only his schooling/studying now, which is good, but since it has been so long since he has cared about these things I think it has made it much much harder.
Theo separating from Boris could have a positive effect on Theo because he would be leaving behind the memories of his father as well. I think that's something Theo really needs get off his mind because his father has only had a negative effect on him. Even though Boris was a close friend there were some things they had done together that was not exactly living a healthy lifestyle for either of them. Moving on from the drugs and alcohol may give Theo a second chance of having a more healthy lifestyle. He is also starting to face reality this way. Drugs and alcohol are common escapes from reality. Now without that influence he can start looking at life without having to live in some fantasy at the same time.
Theo probably hasn’t tried to think of what he should do about the painting more frequently because he simply doesn’t want to; he knows that no matter what there will be some form of consequence in the returning of the painting because he had held onto it for too long. If he were to turn it in now he could face getting put into jail for theft, or even worse there is a possibility of Hobie getting into trouble as well for housing the missing painting even though he was not aware of it being there. The last thing Theo would want is for Hobie to be punished for his mistake, so until he can form a plan on how he can return the painting without consequences to Hobie or himself, at least he is sure will be safe as long as he doesn’t seem suspicious.
The reason that Theo was so upset after the first initial call to Bracegirdle is that reality keeps hitting in the face. He is finally beginning to trust his father and then he finds out that he had taken advantage of him. Then he gets another rude awakening through the way he looks at his mother. As Abby said at the top of the page, he is seeing that his mother could have been as bad as his father if to what he thinks she had an affair with Bracegirdle. Not only is he alone, but he has been taken advantage of time and time again, he can not catch a break.
The reason that Theo has not gotten rid of the painting yet is because of the emotional attachment he has to it. The painting reminds him of his mother, and because of this he does not want to let go of either his mother or the painting. Also, Theo is afraid of the trouble that he will get in when he returns the painting. What will he say when they ask why he took it? I think that Theo is scared of the trouble that he may get into if he returns the painting, coupled with the emotional attachment that he has to it.
Theo is not more actively tried to figure out what to do with the painting yet because he feels a connection with the paining. The painting has become one of the only things left of his mother so he doesn’t want to give it back. He also feels if he does try to get rid of the painting Hobie and Theo will be arrested. He thinks that if he keeps the painting hidden no one will know he has it and people will forget about it.
What is it about Pippa that makes Theo feel so happy and comforted? What do you make of her having to attend such a boarding school? Why does Aunt Margaret want her so badly if she's just going to send her off to school in Switzerland?
For Theo, I believe he finds her so comforting because she looks so exotic when compared to another girl. He describes as having a warm hair color and just a comforting personality. I also think that maybe he finds her comforting because she is one of the only few people who understand what Theo went through due to the bomb. It seems to me that Pippa was sent to such a boarding school because since she was forced to leave New York, she wasn't a very obeying guest for her aunt. Also, I believe Pippa's aunt sent her away just so it would be hard for Hobie to see her and have influence on her the way Welty did.
When Theo wakes up and feels as if he's entered another universe, I think he has the right idea. Moving back across the country, in my opinion, is a great thing for Theo. A fresh start for him to re-invent himself. Away from the drinking, stealing, and stress of his father and Boris. It makes me sad that Boris, someone who genuinely cared about Theo, refuses to change the way he and Theo were living back in Las Vegas. If Theo were still there, I think he would have only gone further downhill.
I think Theo is so hesitant to do anything with the painting because when he looks at it, he sees his mother. It is one of the few things He has left of his mother, and the thought of losing the painting is probably like losing part of his mother. He is also worried about the trouble he and Hobie could get into if it becomes known that he has the painting. Theo knows that people have been sentenced to jail time for stolen artwork, if he comes forward with the painting or draws any attention to he and Hobie about having or trying to get rid of the painting, they could be in serious trouble.
Leaving Las Vegas can symbolize leaving his bad habits behind. Las Vegas and New York are both different and alike. Both are grand, huge cities. One is known for certain things like Central Park, the Statue of Liberty, or the MET, while the other is known for drinking, partying, and gambling. Maybe Theo leaving Las Vegas a sign that he is also going to leave his sinful habits behind and start fresh in a new city.
Theo being separate from Boris and not continuing conversation would be a good thing. Yes Boris became an important friend to Theo. With Theo separate from him it lets Theo put Vegas and what happened to his dad in the past. His habits change without Boris as well. The drugs, drinking and risky behavior stop. Without Boris he has a chance to have a better and safer life.
Theo also hasn't done anything with the painting because its something that keeps him together. He keeps it hidden and out of view for even him to see because he's scared but he doesn't want to give it up. He had plenty of opportunities to turn it in but he didn't. The painting was the one thing he had that gave him a piece of his mother. It was her favorite and one of the last memories he had with her.
Theo wakes up and feels as if he has entered a different universe, because he has. He has left Las Vegas, left Boris, and is away from the negative influence he had upon himself when he was there. In Las Vegas, he was breaking laws and constantly drinking, turning into what his father was and upon returning to New York, he is given the chance to leave his bad influences behind him. Theo can grow back into the person who cared about grades and try to transition himself into becoming a better version of who he became in Vegas. Theo’s move is a way to get a fresh start, and especially leave Boris behind. Boris was never a great friend to Theo and only showed him a way out of forgetting the problems he had, temporarily. The move back to New York is a great blank canvas for Theo and can help his health, too.
Theo's world has been flipped up side down and this would certainly make anyone feel that they have woken up in a new universe. He is unable to comprehend, fully, the extremity of his situation therefore is displaced. Theo went from being an intelligent boy, skipping a grade, and an honors student to a boy lost in Vegas with a 'shadow' kid. He stole, drank, and got into narcotics as a way to cope after his mother's death. Going from this to waking up back in New York, where his world was first torn apart, it feels completely different. He doesn't know where this path will take him, perhaps it'll keep him on the right track and finish school with flying colors. Maybe he'll slip up. This move is opening up a whole new world to Theo that is more than overwhelming at first.
I agree with Wexler on the fact that Theo feels like the painting makes him important. After Theo had lost his father, mother, and best friend, the painting was the one thing that was still his. Theo didn't want to let anybody or anything take it from him. If Theo were to get caught with the painting he would then be someone important to the history of the art community. Feeling important is something that Theo would like to experience for the first time.
Patrick Dillon painted a perfect picture about Theo moving and what it meant. Las Vegas is a party city with lots of drinking and alcohol. Theo's bad habits of drinking and breaking laws fit this cities stereotypes perfectly. When he moves to New York, it symbolizes a new start to his life and a clean slate. New York is a city that symbolizes peace and freedom. Here, Theo can focus more on his academics like he did prior to living in Las Vegas.
Besides the ring, Welty gave Theo a chance. A chance at a new beginning. The ring acts more like a key, that unlocked a building that made Theo feel safe and comfortable. It also gave him a person to trust and befriend, Hobie. As well as a person to meet and love, Pippa. In a world without his mother, Theo is lost in despair and grief, and this building became an escape for him. As well as the people in it, who have Theo's trust.
When Boris texted Theo from the MGM it was good he didn't contact him for years later because he went down a dangerous path. He got into harmful drugs and dealing. Constantly hanging out with the rich girls doing blow per say. Ended up getting into bigger deals too. Uses stolen art as a front to his business.
Theo isn't actively figuring out what to do with the painting, simply because he believes it is in a secure position, and still has fears about what may happen once he returns it. He has realized that he has put hobie at risk, but he seems to rather forget about it instead of dealing with the problem itself. Throughout the story, Theo seems to be putting all his problems behind him and simply forgetting about them instead of dealing with them. I believe he is doing this with the painting. Eventually I believe al these problems will catch up with him, and he will be overwhelmed with his feelings, memories as well as his thoughts.
It is probably for the better that Theo doesn't hear from Boris for a while because Boris got him into some bad things like drugs and using stolen art for a business. Boris wasn't exactly doing Theo that much good in a role model sort of way.
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